IBM and OpenOffice.org

I have been speaking to some of the guys working on getting Lotus Symphony launched and I must say I'm impressed. Just a little bit anyway. Symphony is still build on the old OpenOffice.org 1.1.3 but that is actually not the most important thing. The application has been enhanged dramatically and what you first find, is that extra pane to the right. The pane shows you tools that are relevant to what ever you are doing. Very much like the context sensitive right-click. The difference is, that the pane is there when you need it without having to call it.

Besides, Lotus Symphony can be extended with Eclipse plugins and soon you can write macros using Lotus Script. Lotus Script can be initiated from within Lotus Notes or from the Office application. And with access to the UNO api from Lotus Script, you can really get a long way.

Lotus Symphony can be used in composite applications and with that method, you can join data fra Lotus Notes, web pages etc. and wotk with data e.g. in a spreadsheet.

Some time ago, my advise to Lotus Notes customer was to use OpenOffice.org 3.0 for naw but wait and see about Lotus Symphony. I must say that this advise might fall soon. Lotus Notes user: Try Symphony. Its really a cool suite and you can taka advantage of some of the stuff right now, even if you are not on the brand new Lotus Notes 8.5. Lotus Symphony can be extended to wotk with data from older versions of Notes too.

My first day af my first LotusPhere

Ok. Here I am.

LotusPhere 2009, Orlando, Florida!

This is my first LotusPhere and the first day (Business Development Day) is almost over. My impresison?

Perfect arrangement. Even considering that we are about one hour late and that the last slot is cancelled, I guess thats what to expect, when you gather all business partners on one spot. Transportation and logistics are perfect and the hotel facilities are working fine. The delay wwas caused by presentations that were too long.

I'm really looking forward to the upcomming days in the labs. I expect to see much more of Lotus Expeditor, Lotus Symphony and Lotus Sametime. Thats what I'm hooked up with. I don't think I get much time doing development stuff. There are five tracks, and I just have to jump my way though the most interesting things.

Its a wonderfull place here at the Swan and Dolphin resort. It's about 24 degrees celsius outside and the ait condition in the small rooms are not cappale of keeping up with the warm weather.

LotusPhere - Here I come

I've been looking forward to my trip to Orlando, Florida for months.

Tomorrow morning (early), I'll leave Copenhagen - going to Disney World and LotusPhere.

What will be my scope ?

First of all, I'll try to find as many sessions about Lotus Symphony as possible. I hope to see some examples with Lotus Symphony binded up with Lotus Notes as Composite. I really hope to see how to merge Notes data in spreadsheets/charts and text documents.

Also I will try to find further business opportunities in Lotus Sametime.

Social networking perhaps? If I get the time.

Why not Lotus Symphony right away ?

As I often advocate for OpenOffice.org in both private and business societies, I get questions about Lotus Symphony and Lotus Notes 8 from time to time. My advise to companies that are already using Lotus Notes is, to take Lotus Symphony serious as a future possibility. Right now I say: "Use Openoffice.org 3.0".

The reason for not advocating Lotus Symphony at the present time is, that the application is basically build on old code. If you look at it from a functions- and features perspective, the Lotus Symphony is not as rich as OpenOffice.org. At the same tim IBM has been very closed when it comes to information about the actual plans. Last autumn I asked IBM if there where plans to move from OOo 1.x code base to 3.x code base. I also asked if IBM had plans to implement support for extensions. No reply. During this years OpenOffice.org Conference IBM announced that there are plans to elevate the application to OOo 3 code base but still no time frame for the plans (did I miss something?). That is the reason why I put Lotus Symphony 'on hold' as the best alternative for the moment. I hope IBM will show me that they can do better, but at the time that happens, a lot of customers will be using OpenOffice.org. With a clear and accurate time plan for the development of Lotus Symphony, lots of customers might be able to make another decision.

I see a lot of good perspective in Lotus Notes in the future. It give meaning to build productivity tools on the same (eclipse) platform and the screencasts I have seen so far from Notes 8.5 looks nice. Imaging composite applications with Lotus Notes, Websites and a spreadsheet or text document ? It gives very good meaning.

Lotus Notes integration

I've been working with system integration with Lotus Notes and Office for several years now and I have been looking forward to see how IBM Lotus would take advantage of Lotus Symphony and Lotus Notes. Both applications are build on the same Eclipse platform and I have talked to lots of customers about how IBM could take advantage of this.

Here it is. And I hope that this is only the beginning.

Bob Balfe writes on his blog how Lotus Symphony can be 'composite' in the future: http://blog.balfes.net/index.php?entry=entry080910-110959

Watch the demo video here: http://blog.balfes.net/files/ntosin6/Notes2SymphonyIn6Minutes.html and see how selecting documents in a view can update a spreadsheet chart. Woow.